Table leg



Allg. 11, 1931. E, L KNAPP 1,818,629

TABLE LEG Filed July 11, 1927 Patented Aug. 11, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT. osi-"ici:

EDWARD L. um, `Ol Gm RAPIDS, KIQHIGAN, ASISIGI'OB TO UATIOIAI nm, 0l' GRAND RAPIDS, IICHIGAN. A CORPORATION Ol' IIUmGAI- f TBL] LEG Application Sled Iuly 11, 1927. Serial Io. 001,688.

This invention relates to foldi tables and is more particularly concerne with a simple and novel means kfor releasably holding legs of stable either in folded moperative position ,or in unfolded operative position. The invention is particularly applicable to small and light tables sometimes called card tables which may be collapsed into very small compass when not in use, the le folding snugly against the under side o? the table top and within the frame thereof while, when turned at right angles the same assume a vertical position and su ort the table top at a desired height.

e construction which I have devised is not only simple and economical to make but when a table 1e is in unfolded operative position it is hel very 'securely and rigidly 1n place and locked so there is no lost motion between the table top and supporting legs therefor.

An understanding of the invention for the attainment of the above described -ends, as well as many others not at this time ecically stated, may be had from the o1- lowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a corner of a table top and the folding leg construction associated therewith, parts of the top being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal section through the structure shown in Fig. 1 at a corner of the table showing the position of the parts with the leg locked in unfolded operative position.

Fi 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showino` t e parts unlocked and the leg partially folded, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section adjacent the corners of t e table showing the supporting leg in vertical operative p0- sition.

Like reference characters refer to like partsin the different figures of the drawm v l i the construction illustrated, a member l of iiat metal is provided bent into substan tially U-shape having inner and outer sides or fianges v1 and 2, the latter of' which is longer than the former and which are integrally connected by va web 3. From the under edge of the web 3 and the flange 2 ears 4 extend outwardly at riht angles. This member described is uw in a corner of a table top frame made up of parallel sides 5 and ends 6 over-which the top cover 7 is placed and secured. When placed in said corner the ears 4 come against the unler sides of the frame members 5 and 6 an the frame while o er screws, also indicated at 8, ass through the 12E? and web 3 into the rame members m 'ng a secure and ermanent connection of the U-shaped memr to the frame. A second U-shaped member also of flat screws 8 are passed therethrough into o metal having spaced apart fianges 9 and 9a connected by a web 10 is pivotally mounted on the first member by means of a pivot pin 11 as shown. The second U-shaped member telescopes within the iirst and the pivot pin 11 is located at the upper inner corners of said members.

The upper end of .a leg 12 extends into the second U-shaped member between the iianges 9 and 9a and is permanently secured thereto. An opening 13 is bored transversely through the leg a short distance below its u per end and adjacent its outer side in w ich is located a coiled spring 14V and a locking in 15 which normally is projected outwar y by through an opening in the side 9a and through a similar opening 16 in the iiange 2 when said openin come into conjunction with each other. his occurs when the leg is unfolded so as to be disposed at right angles to the frame of the tab e top. Therefore, if the leg is moved from folded to unfolded position immediately upon the twol openings described coming into conjunction with each other the locking in 15 is moved so as to extend through bot of said openings -as shown in Fig. 2, and the leg is firm y locked to the ta le toll;i

In order to move the loc 'iig pin 15 inward against the s ring 14 a manually operable pin 17 is slida 1y mounted through the the spring so as to pass The opening into which the sleeve 18 is inserted is also enlarged as indicated at 21 'for the free movement of the part 19. In

the assembly, before the first U-shaped mem- .ber is attached, the pin 17 is inserted through the frame member after which the sleeve 18 is driven into place and then when the first U-shaped member is attached to the table top frame the pin 17 is held against disengagement from the member 5, as is evident.

Theouter end of the operating pin 17, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 2, projects a short distance beyond the outer side of the frame member 5 and in position that it may be moved inwardly by an operator. When moved inwardly the lockingpin is moved until its end comes to the dividing plane between the contacting fianges 9a and 2 of the two U-members while the end of the projection 2O stops before it enters the opening through the flange 9a. As thus positioned the leg 12 may be folded upwardly against the under side of the top 7 and within the frame member 5, the rounded end of the pin 15 riding against the inner side of the flange 2 until, when the leg is folded fiat against the top 7, the end of the pin 15 comes to an opening 22 made through the member 2 and seats therein. The opening 22 is of less diameter than the diameter of the in 15 so that the rounded end of the pin on y seats in the opening. While the retaining effect of the pin is sufiicient to hold the le 12 against accidental movement, it is not su cient to make a positive lock and the leg ma be easily moved by exertionof very little orce and unfolded to its operative position Where the locking pin will ass through the opening 16 and make a positive lock to hold the leg in its unfolded operative position until unlocked by pressing inwardly on the pin 17.

This construction is a simple one yet one which is particularly effective for the purposes for which it is designed. The positive and rigid lock made is one of value particularly with light Weight tables, there being no lay or lost motion between the table top and) the table leg. The invention is defined in the claims appended hereto and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In combination with a table top having a de ending border frame, a rigid member attac ed at each corner of the frame, a second member pivotally connected to the first member, a table leg attached tol and extendangles to the plane of the table top i'to thereby rigidly lock said leg against movement with respect to said table top, and means extending through ,said frameand manually operable from the outer :side thereof engaging with said locking means to move the same to inoperative position and thereby release said leg so that it may be turned to lie against the under sdeof said table top. 2. A construction of the class described comprising, a table top having a'dependin border frame,"a U-shaped member of meta secured to said. frame, a secondV U-sha ed member pivotally connected to and lying between the flanges ofthe first member, a

table leg permanently secured to the second U-shaped member and swingable froma position parallel to the table top to a position at right angles thereto, locking means housed within the upper end of said leg engageable with iange of said first U-shaped member to positively lock the leg in the last named position, means extending through u said frame and manually operable from the outer side thereof for releasing said locking means so that the leg may be moved to parallel the table top and means on a flange of the first U-shaped member with which said locking means engages when the leg has been moved to a position parallel to the table top for releasably holding the leg in said position.

3. In a construction of the class described, a table top, a depending border frame therefor, a U-shaped member of flat metal secured in each corner of the border frame at the inner sides thereof, a second -U-shaped mem. ber of fiat metal disposed betweenthe fianges of the first member and pivotally connected thereto, a leg permanently secured to the second U-shaped member, a spring actuated locking pin housed in the upper portion of said leg, adjacent fianges of the U-shaped members having openings for an end of the locking pin to pass through, said openings coming into conjunction when the legis located substantially at right angles to the table top, and a releasing pin slidably mounted through the border frame of said table top and lying in alignment with said pin when the leg is at right angles to the top, whereby, by pressing inwardly on the outer end of said releasing pin, the locking pin is moved so as to discngage from the opening through the ange of the first named U-shaped member, thereby permitting the leg to be folded against the under side of the table top.

4. In combination a table top having a depending frame, a U-shaped member of metal located in each corner of the frame under said topand permanently secured to the frame, a second U-shaped member of metal pivotally connected to and lying between the flanges of the first member, a table leg attached, to and extending from said second U-shaped member, said leg having a transverse opening therein near its upper end, a locking pin slidably mounted in said opening, a coiled spring acting on said locking pin tending to move the same longitudinally when free to do so, the flange of the secondk U-shaped member adjacent an end of said pin having an opening to pass said pin and the adjacent flange of the other U-shaped member having an opening into which the pin projects when the leg is turned to a position at right angles to the plane of the table top, and a manually operable release member slidably mounted fand having an end adapted to bear against an end of the locking pin when the leg has been turned to position at right angles to the table top, said release member being manually movable so as to move the locking pin out of the opening through the fia-nge of the first U-shaped member. 5. In combination with a table top having a vdepending border frame, a leg pivotally mounted at the inner side of said frame, a movable locking bolt mounted on said leg and swinging therewith, a fixed detnt at the inner side of said frame with which said movable locking bolt engages to retain the 85 leg in operative Iposition, and releasing means extending t rough said frame and manually operable from the outer side thereof and engageable with said locking bolt to release it from said detent; 40 In testimony whereof I alix my signature.

EDWARD L. KNAPP. 

